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((short description|English pop band))
((Distinguish|Another Bad Creation))
((Use British English|date=May 2015))((Use dmy dates|date=May 2015))
((Infobox musical artist 
| name                 = ABC
| image                = ABC at Eroica Britannia 2017 06.jpg
| caption              = ABC performing in June 2017
| landscape            = yes
| alt                  = 
| background           = group_or_band
| alias                = 
| origin               = [[Sheffield]], England
| genre                = ((hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]<ref name="AM"/><ref>((cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/2006/06/20/still-a-spectacle-fun-loving-abc-holds-up-well/|website=[[Hartford Courant]]|title= STILL A SPECTACLE, FUN-LOVING ABC HOLDS UP WELL|date=20 June 2006|access-date=22 March 2023))</ref>|[[New wave music|new wave]]<ref name="AM">((cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= ABC – Artist Biography |publisher= [[AllMusic]]. [[All Media Network]] |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/abc-mn0000574597/biography |access-date= 2 August 2016))</ref>|[[synth-pop]]<ref name="AM"/>|[[new pop]]<ref>((cite book|last=Reynolds|first=Simon|author-link=Simon Reynolds|title=On Record: Rock, Pop and the Written Word|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lauJAgAAQBAJ|year=2006|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-93951-0|chapter=New Pop and its Aftermath))</ref><ref name="Now That's What I Call New Pop!">Harvel, Jess. [http://pitchfork.com/features/article/6139-now-thats-what-i-call-new-pop/ "Now That's What I Call New Pop!".] ''[[Pitchfork Media]]''. 12 September 2005.</ref>))
| years_active         = ((hlist|1980–1991|1997–present))
| label                = ((hlist|[[Virgin EMI Records|Virgin EMI]]|[[Deconstruction Records|Deconstruction]]|[[Parlophone]]|[[PolyGram]]|[[Philips Records|Philips]]|[[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]]))
| website              = ((URL|abcmartinfry.com))
| current_members      = [[Martin Fry]]
| past_members         = * [[Stephen Singleton]]
* [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]]
* Mark Lickley
* David Robinson
* David Palmer
* [[Fiona Russell Powell]]
* [[David Yarritu]]
))
'''ABC''' are an English [[Pop music|pop]] band formed in [[Sheffield]] in 1980. Their classic line-up consisted of lead vocalist [[Martin Fry]], guitarist and keyboardist [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]], saxophonist [[Stephen Singleton]], and drummer David Palmer.<ref name=":0">((Cite book |author=Dafydd Rees |author2=Luke Crampton |title=The Guinness Book of Rock Stars: An A to Z of the People Who Made Rock Happen |publisher=Guinness World Records |year=1991 |isbn=0-85112-971-4 |edition=2nd |location=Enfield |pages=2–3 |oclc=24712919))</ref>

Developed from an earlier band, [[Vice Versa (band)|Vice Versa]], ABC achieved ten UK and five US [[top 40]] hit singles between 1981 and 1990, and their 1982 debut studio album, ''[[The Lexicon of Love]]'', was a UK number one. Their early-1980s success in the US saw them associated with the [[Second British Invasion]].<ref>((cite book|first= Simon |last= Reynolds |author-link= Simon Reynolds |title= Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984 |title-link= Rip It Up and Start Again |publisher= [[Faber and Faber]] |year= 2005 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/ripitupstartagai00reyn/page/340 340], 342–3 |isbn= 0-571-21570-X))</ref><ref>((cite book|first= Tony |last= Fletcher |author-link= Tony Fletcher |year= 2013 |title= Perfect Circle: The Story of REM |publisher= [[Music Sales Group|Omnibus Press]] |quote= By the time ''Murmur'' was released, the American chart was aflow with the likes of Soft Cell, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Haircut 100 and ABC: the fabled Second British Invasion. |isbn= 978-0-8571-2853-9 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Ljv_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT121))</ref> Now essentially a solo project for Fry, ABC continue to tour and released a ninth studio album, ''[[The Lexicon of Love II]]'', in 2016.

==History==
===Formation===
ABC has its roots in [[Vice Versa (band)|Vice Versa]], a Sheffield band formed in 1977 by synthesizer players [[Stephen Singleton]] and [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]]. Their debut gig was as the support to [[Wire (band)|Wire]] at the Outlook club in Sheffield.<ref name="Frame">Frame, Pete. (1999) Pete Frame's Rockin' Around Britain: Rock'n'roll Landmarks of the UK and Ireland, Omnibus Press ((ISBN|978-0711969735))</ref> They founded their own label, Neutron Records, releasing the [[Extended play|EP]] ''Music 4''. [[Martin Fry]], who wrote the fanzine ''Modern Drugs'', interviewed Vice Versa and shortly afterwards they asked him to join as synthesizer player.<ref name="sheff">((cite web|url=http://www.sheffieldvision.com/aboutmis_bands_vv.html|title=made in sheffield - vice versa|website=Sheffieldvision.com|access-date=25 June 2016))</ref> Fry accepted and by late 1980 the band had evolved into ABC, with Fry becoming lead singer.<ref name="sheff" /><ref name="Reynolds">Reynolds, Simon (2005) ''Rip it up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984'', Faber & Faber, ((ISBN|0-571-21570-X))</ref><ref name=rs>((cite encyclopedia |editor=George-Warren, Holly and Patricia Romanowski |encyclopedia=The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll |title=ABC|year=2005|publisher=Fireside|location=New York City |isbn= 978-0-7432-9201-6 |page=2))</ref><ref name="The Great Rock Discography">((cite book
| first= Martin C.
| last= Strong
| year= 2000
| title= The Great Rock Discography
| edition= 5th
| publisher= Mojo Books
| location= Edinburgh
| pages= 2–3
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3))</ref> The band's last day as Vice Versa was at the Futurama 2 Festival in [[Leeds]] in September 1980; from then on it performed as ABC, with Singleton playing saxophone and White on guitar and keyboards.<ref name=":0" /> In the new year, Singleton and White were joined by Mark Lickley on bass and David Robinson on drums.<ref name="futurama">((cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/25141-futurama/id/2763991-futurama-1980|title=Futurama 1980|website=Songkick.com|access-date=25 June 2016))</ref>

=== ''The Lexicon of Love'', ''Beauty Stab'' & ''How to Be a Zillionaire'': 1981–1985 ===
The band's first single, "[[Tears Are Not Enough (ABC song)|Tears Are Not Enough]]", made the UK top 20 in 1981.<ref name=":0" /> Soon afterwards, Robinson left the band and was replaced by David Palmer; Lickley departed shortly thereafter and was not replaced.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> In 1982, the band released their debut studio album ''[[The Lexicon of Love]]'', which reached number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Produced by [[Trevor Horn]], it often featured in UK critics' lists of favourite albums: it ranked 42nd in ''[[The Observer|The Observer Music Monthly]]'''s "Top 100 British Albums" (June 2004) and 40th in ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine's "100 Greatest British Albums" (June 2000). The band had three top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "[[Poison Arrow]]", "[[The Look of Love (ABC song)|The Look of Love]]" (both of which were recorded whilst Mark Lickley was still a member of the band), and "[[All of My Heart]]".<ref name=":0" /> Several [[high-concept]] music videos were made, including the long-form spy pastiche "Mantrap" by [[Julien Temple]].<ref name=":0" />

Following the culmination of the ''Lexicon of Love'' tour, Palmer joined the [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]] for a series of tour dates; shortly thereafter Fry, White and Singleton decided to reconvene in order to commence work on their next album, leading Palmer to depart ABC in order to honour his commitments to Yellow Magic Orchestra's tour. The remaining members found it difficult to follow up on the success of their debut. Their second album, ''[[Beauty Stab]]'', was released in November 1983, produced by [[Gary Langan]] who was the [[audio engineering|engineer]] on ''The Lexicon of Love''.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> It performed poorly in comparison to its predecessor, peaking at No. 12. The first single from the album, "[[That Was Then but This Is Now]]", briefly appeared in the UK top 20, followed by a top 40 showing for "[[S.O.S. (ABC song)|SOS]]".<ref name=":0" /> The band eschewed [[remix]]es for the project and so the 12" single for "That Was Then but This Is Now" featured the disclaimer "This record is exactly the same as the 7" version. The choice is yours."

Singleton left the band shortly after the release of ''Beauty Stab'' as a result of Fry and White's reluctance to spend much time touring the band's material. Fry and White then enlisted the services of [[Fiona Russell Powell]] (under the name "Eden") and [[David Yarritu]] in the band's new line-up. Russell Powell had been a member of the original line-up of the pre-ABC band, Vice Versa. According to an article published on 7 March 1997,<ref>[http://www.fionarussellpowell.com/articles/abc.htm "Pop groups should not make comebacks, says Fiona Russell Powell"] ((webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219015343/http://www.fionarussellpowell.com/articles/abc.htm |date=19 February 2009 )), ''[[The Times]]'', 7 March 1997</ref> she 'chickened out' of Vice Versa's first live gig, and the job as frontman went to Fry. The Fry-White-Russell Powell-Yarritu line-up recorded the album ''[[How to Be a ... Zillionaire!]]'', released in 1985. The band's chart success dwindled further in the UK with this album, but they did score their first US top 10 hit with "[[Be Near Me]]", which also made the UK top 30. The album also featured the singles "[[(How to Be a) Millionaire]]", "[[Vanity Kills]]" and "[[Ocean Blue (song)|Ocean Blue]]". Inspiration for the album's cartoons of the band members was taken from a photo shoot by [[David Levine (photographer)|David Levine]] whose work featured on many of the sleeves for singles released from this album.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> [[Keith LeBlanc]] from [[Tackhead]] programmed much of the beatbox work for the album.

=== Chart success continues with ''Alphabet City'': 1986–1988 ===
After a hiatus, during which Fry was being treated for [[Hodgkin's lymphoma]], he and White reconvened ABC as a duo, releasing the album ''[[Alphabet City (album)|Alphabet City]]'' in 1987.<ref name=":0" /> The album returned them to the UK Top 10 for the first time in five years, peaking at No. 7. It featured "[[When Smokey Sings]]", a tribute to [[Smokey Robinson]], which narrowly missed the UK Top 10.<ref name=":0" /> The song did give the group their biggest hit in the US, where it peaked at number 5 in September.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1987-09-19|title=Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart|website=Billboard.com|access-date=8 July 2018))</ref> The album also spawned "[[The Night You Murdered Love]]" (UK No. 31) and "[[King Without a Crown (ABC song)|King Without a Crown]]" (UK No. 44) as singles.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

=== ''Up'', greatest hits album ''Absolutely'' & ''Abracadabra'': 1989–1992 ===
In 1989, the duo issued ''[[Up (ABC album)|Up]]'', their fifth and final [[PolyGram]] studio album. This time experimenting with [[house music]], ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "[[One Better World]]". A second single, "[[The Real Thing (ABC song)|The Real Thing]]", and the album itself were less successful.<ref name=":0" /> During this period, the duo worked on a couple of outside productions aimed at the house music scene. One was [[Paul Rutherford (singer)|Paul Rutherford]]'s ([[Frankie Goes to Hollywood]]) solo album and first single release; the other was for Lizzie Tear on the duo's own Neutron label.

In 1990, the band released a [[Greatest hits album|greatest hits]] [[compilation album]], ''[[Absolutely (ABC album)|Absolutely]]''. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990 and featured most of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring [[Promotion (marketing)|promo]]s was also released. One new song, "The Look of Love '90", was released to promote the package.<ref name=":0" />

The duo moved to the [[EMI Records|EMI]] label (and [[MCA Records|MCA]] in North America), where they recorded the 1991 album ''[[Abracadabra (ABC album)|Abracadabra]]''. Two singles, "[[Love Conquers All (ABC song)|Love Conquers All]]" and "[[Say It (ABC song)|Say It]]", narrowly missed the UK Top 40, though a remix of the latter by the Italian production team [[Black Box (band)|Black Box]] appeared on the US dance charts.

Martin Fry also collaborated with [[M People]] in 1991 on their first album, ''[[Northern Soul (M People album)|Northern Soul]]'', recording vocals for the song "Life". However, when the album was re-released in 1992, and again in 1995, this track was omitted.

===''Skyscraping'' and comeback: 1997–2007===
After a six-year hiatus, Fry, now the sole member of ABC, resurrected the band's name in 1997 for the album ''[[Skyscraping]]'', an homage to several of his musical heroes, including [[David Bowie]], [[Roxy Music]] and the [[Sex Pistols]]. With [[Glenn Gregory]] of [[Heaven 17]] and Keith Lowndes contributing to the sessions and songwriting, the album was commercially unsuccessful though a single, "[[Stranger Things (ABC song)|Stranger Things]]", reached No. 57 in the UK. Two other singles, "[[Rolling Sevens]]" and "[[Skyscraping (song)|Skyscraping]]", did not chart.

In 1999, ABC released their first live album, ''[[The Lexicon of Live]]''. The album covered most of their major hits. Although Fry was the only member left, he had a backing band and adorned the album cover in his famed gold lamé suit.

''[[Look of Love – The Very Best of ABC]]'' was released in 2001. Although essentially a reissue of the 1990 greatest hits compilation ''Absolutely'', the album featured two new songs by Fry, "Peace and Tranquility" and "Blame". A companion DVD, along with a bonus disc of remixes, was also released.

In 2004, the [[VH1]] show ''[[Bands Reunited]]'' attempted to get the band's classic line-up of Fry, White, Singleton and Palmer together for a reunion concert. Fry and Palmer appeared and played together (with help from [[Nick Beggs]] of [[Kajagoogoo]]) for the first time in over twenty years. Singleton and White opted not to participate.

===''Traffic'': 2007–2015===
Following a tour of the United States in May and June 2006, Fry and Palmer, together with session keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together a new ABC album, ''[[Traffic (ABC album)|Traffic]]''. It was released on 28 April 2008. [[Gary Langan]], who worked on ''The Lexicon of Love'' and ''Beauty Stab'', mixed and produced the album. The first single, "The Very First Time", debuted on [[BBC Radio 2]] in January, was added to the station's "A" playlist for the week beginning 29 March and was released as a [[music download]] track on 1 April.

On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set with other 1980s acts at Retrofest at [[Culzean Castle]] in [[Ayrshire]], Scotland. This appearance included a rendition of "[[Addicted to Love (song)|Addicted to Love]]", with [[Tony Hadley]] of [[Spandau Ballet]] and [[Peter Cox (musician)|Peter Cox]] of [[Go West (band)|Go West]].

In the summer of 2008, ABC toured the US as part of the 2008 Regeneration Tour, which also featured [[the Human League]], [[Belinda Carlisle]], [[A Flock of Seagulls]] and [[Naked Eyes]].

In April 2009, ABC performed ''The Lexicon of Love'' album live at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], accompanied by the [[BBC Concert Orchestra]]. [[Anne Dudley]] of [[Art of Noise]], who arranged and played keyboards on the original record, conducted the performance. A music review in the 13 April 2009 edition of ''[[The Independent]]'' newspaper, described the performance as a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums back near the top of the pop pantheon".

In 2009 ABC toured the US as the headliner of the 2009 'Regeneration Tour',<ref>((cite web|url=http://regenerationtour.com |title=Regeneration Tour 2009 |publisher=Regenerationtour.com |access-date=23 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007210637/http://regenerationtour.com/ |archive-date=7 October 2011 ))</ref> which also featured [[Terri Nunn]] of [[Berlin (band)|Berlin]], [[Wang Chung (band)|Wang Chung]] and [[Cutting Crew]].

In June, July and August 2011, ABC performed at a few locations around the UK as well as [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]. In October 2011, ABC performing dates in [[Melbourne]], Australia.

On 19 July 2012, Fry was made an honorary [[Doctor of Music]] at the [[University of Sheffield]] for his contribution to music over more than thirty years. The following day his daughter Nancy received her degree from the Department of Sociological Studies from the same university.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.shef.ac.uk/news/nr/abc-martin-fry-honorary-degree-ceremonies-1.193078|title=ABC singer takes centre stage in honorary degree ceremonies|website=Shef.ac.uk|date=6 July 2012|access-date=2016-06-25))</ref>

On 1 March 2013, ABC appeared in [[Dubai]], UAE, in the '80s Rewind' concert with [[Rick Astley]], [[Heaven 17]], [[Howard Jones (British musician)|Howard Jones]] and [[T'Pau (band)|T'Pau]].

In June 2014, it was revealed that a dozen early tapes had been discovered of rare remixes and unheard songs from ABC's first three albums. These were returned to Martin Fry who was delighted, but unsure as to what he would do with them. According to ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]'', the rediscovered songs include "a 'That's It Folks!' mix of 'So Hip It Hurts' from ''Zillionaire''. From ''Beauty Stab'', reams of early studio takes have come to light including one song, 'You and Me', that never made the final album. From ''The Lexicon of Love'' era, the band's own, pre-[[Trevor Horn]] demos of 'All of My Heart' have come to light, along with a reel entitled '4 Ever 2 Gether – The Outtake, Starring Martin Fry as Ken Dodd'".<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.classicpopmag.com/2014/06/exclusive-lost-abc-master-tapes-found/|title=Exclusive! Lost ABC Master Tapes Found - Classic Pop Magazine|date=10 June 2014|website=Classicpopmag.com|access-date=25 June 2016))</ref>

===''The Lexicon of Love II'': 2016 - 2021===
[[File:ABC at Eroica Britannia 2017 05.jpg|thumb|ABC at ''Eroica Britannia'' 2017, Derbyshire]]
In October 2015, Fry announced that he was working on a new ABC album. "It's going to be a take on ''The Lexicon of Love'', but all these years on. I'm a man in my fifties now with a wealth of experience. It's about how you grow older but you make the same mistakes over and over and over again."<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/music/13927598._quot_People_loved_that_record__They_still_do__quot__Martin_Fry_on_The_Lexicon_of_Love|title="People loved that record. They still do." Martin Fry on The Lexicon of Love|website=Heraldscotland.com|access-date=25 June 2016))</ref>

In November 2015, a compilation album entitled ''80s Recovered'' was released, featuring many artists from the 1980s. ABC contributed a cover of [[Radiohead]]'s "[[High and Dry]]", with a regular version and a remix.<ref>((cite web  |url=http://80srecovered.com/TheSongs.php |title=80s Recovered |website=80srecovered.com |access-date=25 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208100447/http://80srecovered.com/TheSongs.php |archive-date=8 December 2015 ))</ref>

In January 2016, Fry said the new ABC album would be entitled ''The Lexicon of a Lost Ideal'' and released in the UK in May 2016. Featuring tracks penned by Fry, with contributions by [[Rob Fusari]], [[Marcus Vere]], Matt Rowe and [[Anne Dudley]], the album features orchestration arranged by Anne Dudley, who worked in a similar capacity on ''The Lexicon of Love''.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/entertainment-and-sport/abc-at-manchester235-casino|title=ABC At Manchester235 casino - Manchester Confidential|website=Manchesterconfidential.co.uk|access-date=25 June 2016))</ref> In April 2016, the release of the new album, now entitled ''[[The Lexicon of Love II]]'', was announced with lead single "Viva Love" made available via digital platforms. It was A playlisted by BBC Radio 2.<ref>((cite web|url= http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/abc-to-release-lexicon-of-love-ii/|title= ABC to release The Lexicon of Love II|publisher=Superdeluxeedition.com|access-date= 2016-04-28))</ref> 

The release of "Viva Love" was accompanied by a video directed by [[Julien Temple]], who also worked with the band on the Mantrap and Poison Arrow videos, which the new video references.

The album was released in the UK and the US on 27 May 2016 and entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at No. 5, the first time ABC had reached the Top 5 since the original ''Lexicon of Love'' album in 1982.((citation needed|date=June 2016))

"The Flames Of Desire" and "Ten Below Zero" were released as follow-up singles. Both were added to the BBC Radio 2 playlist. 

ABC also contributed a new song called "Living Inside My Heart" to ''Fly: Songs Inspired by the Film Eddie the Eagle'', the soundtrack of which was released on 18 March 2016 on CD and digitally.<ref>((cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fly-songs-inspired-by-the-film-eddie-the-eagle-released-march-18-2016-300214605.html|title='FLY' Songs Inspired By The Film EDDIE THE EAGLE Released March 18, 2016|first=Universal Music|last=Enterprises|website=Prnewswire.com|access-date=25 June 2016))</ref>

ABC released their first [[Christmas music|Christmas]] song, entitled "A Christmas We Deserve", on 2 December 2016 as part of a 4-track EP. The other three songs are acoustic versions of "The Love Inside the Love, "Viva Love" and "The Look of Love".

In March 2017, just before the band's [[Royal Albert Hall]] orchestra show on April 6 (featuring songs from ''The Lexicon of Love II'', greatest hits and the complete ''Lexicon of Love'' album) the band announced the November 2017 XYZ tour. During the tour two new songs were performed: "Look Good Tonite" and "The Life And Times Of A Troubadour". 

On October 22, 2020, the compilation album ''The Essential ABC'' - featuring songs and remixes from the first five albums - entered the UK Official Albums Chart at #62. <ref>https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19344/abc/</ref>

===''The Lexicon of Love 40th Anniversary'': 2022 and beyond===
On June 9, 2022 ABC released the vinyl-only single "Look Good Tonite"/"Sixty Seconds Later" in the UK. <ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/23538053-ABC-Look-Good-Tonite-Sixty-Seconds-Later</ref>

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of ''The Lexicon of Love'', the band performed at Sheffield City Hall on 21 June 2022. The show was recorded for future release on CD and DVD.

In January 2023, a US show was announced: the band played at the [[Cruel World Festival]] in [[Pasadena]], [[California]] on May 20, 2023.<ref>((cite web|first=Damien|last=Jones|url=https://www.nme.com/news/siouxsie-sioux-and-iggy-pop-lead-cruel-world-festival-2023-line-up-3385361|title=Siouxsie Sioux and Iggy Pop lead Cruel World Festival 2023 line-up with other acts including the Human League|publisher=NME|date=23 January 2023|access-date=26 January 2023))</ref>

In March ABC announced the May 19 release of the live 2CD ''The Lexicon of Love 40th Anniversary Live At Sheffield City Hall''. It was released digitally and as a limited edition live album on 19 May 2023.<ref>((cite web|title=ABC Announce New Live Album, ‘The Lexicon Of Love Live’ – Set For Release 19 May|url=https://essentiallypop.com/epop/2023/03/abc-announce-new-live-album-the-lexicon-of-love-live-set-for-release-19-may/))</ref>

The album was recorded in 2022 at a show in ABC’s hometown of Sheffield, to mark the 40th anniversary of the seminal album, ‘The Lexicon Of Love’. ABC were joined by the original orchestral team of Southbank Sinfonia and longtime collaborator and arranger [[Anne Dudley]] who conducted on the evening of the recording. The album features the whole of the original Lexicon Of Love album, plus hits like "When Smokey Sings", "Be Near Me", "Viva Love", "(How To Be A) Millionaire" and "The Flames Of Desire".

On August 4 ''The Lexicon of Love'' was reissued (belatedly) for its 40th anniversary with special vinyl editions and an SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio, No. 12 in the ongoing SDE Surround Series. Renowned musician, songwriter and producer [[Steven Wilson]] remixed the classic album in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and stereo for this special reissue, which was also made available on streaming platforms. <ref>https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/abcs-the-lexicon-of-love-on-sde-exclusive-blu-ray-audio/</ref> The album (re)entered the UK Official Album Chart at #48.

==Band members==
((col-begin))
((col-2))
;Current members
*[[Martin Fry]]&nbsp;– lead vocals <small>(1980–1991, 1997–present)</small>

'''Former members'''
*[[Stephen Singleton]] – alto and tenor saxophones <small>(1980–1984)</small>
*[[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]] – keyboards, guitars <small>(1980–1991)</small>
*Mark Lickley – bass guitar <small>(1981–1982)</small>
*David Robinson – drums, percussion <small>(1981)</small>
*David Palmer – drums, percussion <small>(1981–1983, 2004–2009)</small>
*[[Fiona Russell Powell]] – vocals <small>(1984–1985)</small>
*[[David Yarritu]] – vocals <small>(1984–1985)</small>
((col-2))

'''Current touring musicians'''
*Matt Backer – guitars <small>(1999–present)</small>
*Andy Carr – bass guitar <small>(2008–present)</small>
*Rob Hughes – alto and tenor saxophones <small>(2008–present)</small>
*Steve Kelly – keyboards <small>(1998–present)</small>
*Lily Gonzalez – percussion <small>(1998–present)</small> 
*Richard Brook – drums, percussion <small>(2009–present)</small>

((col-end))

===Line-ups===
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99%
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1980–1981
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1981
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1981–1982
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1982–1983<br><small>(Classic Lineup)</small>
|-
| valign=top |
*'''[[Martin Fry]]''' – vocals
*'''[[Stephen Singleton]]''' – alto and tenor saxophones
*'''[[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]]''' – guitars, keyboards, programming
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
*'''Stephen Singleton''' – alto and tenor saxophones
*'''Mark White''' – guitars, keyboards, programming
*'''Mark Lickley''' – bass guitar
*'''David Robinson''' – drums, percussion
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
*'''Stephen Singleton''' – alto and tenor saxophones
*'''Mark White''' – guitars, keyboards, programming
*'''Mark Lickley''' – bass guitar
*'''David Palmer''' – drums, percussion
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
*'''Stephen Singleton''' – alto and tenor saxophones
*'''Mark White''' – guitars, keyboards, programming
*'''David Palmer''' – drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1983–1984
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1984–1985
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1985–1991
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1991–1997
|-
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
*'''Stephen Singleton''' – alto and tenor saxophones
*'''Mark White''' – guitars, keyboards, programming
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
*'''Mark White''' – guitars, keyboards, programming
*'''[[Fiona Russell Powell]]''' – vocals
*'''[[David Yarritu]]''' – vocals
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
*'''Mark White''' – guitars, keyboards, programming
| valign=top |
'''Disbanded'''
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1997–2004
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2004–2009
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2009–2016
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2016–present
|          
|-
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
*'''David Palmer''' – drums, percussion
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – vocals
| valign=top |
*'''Martin Fry''' – various instrumentation 
|}

=== Timeline ===
<div align="center">
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:1009 height:300
PlotArea = left:115 bottom:85 top:05 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/10/1980 till:31/12/2020
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1982
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1981

Colors =
  id:voc value:red legend:Vocals
  id:ww value:gray(0.5) legend:Saxophone
  id:g value:green legend:Guitars
  id:key value:purple legend:Keyboards
  id:b value:blue legend:Bass
  id:dr value:orange legend:Drums
  id:lines value:black legend:Studio_Releases

LineData =
  width:2
  at:21/06/1982 color:black layer:back
  at:24/11/1983 color:black layer:back
  at:14/10/1985 color:black layer:back
  at:12/10/1987 color:black layer:back
  at:16/10/1989 color:black layer:back
  at:12/08/1991 color:black layer:back
  at:24/03/1997 color:black layer:back
  at:28/04/2008 color:black layer:back
  at:27/05/2016 color:black layer:back

PlotData=
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:Martin&nbsp;Fry from:start till:01/01/1992 color:voc
  bar:Martin&nbsp;Fry from:01/01/1997 till:end color:voc
  bar:Martin&nbsp;Fry from:02/07/2016 till:end color:key width:9
  bar:Martin&nbsp;Fry from:02/07/2016 till:end color:g width:7
  bar:Martin&nbsp;Fry from:02/07/2016 till:end color:b width:6
  bar:Martin&nbsp;Fry from:02/07/2016 till:end color:ww width:3
  bar:Martin&nbsp;Fry from:02/07/2016 till:end color:dr width:5 
  bar:Fiona&nbsp;Russell&nbsp;Powell from:01/10/1984 till:01/01/1986 color:voc
  bar:David&nbsp;Yarritu from:01/10/1984 till:01/01/1986 color:voc
  bar:Mark&nbsp;White from:start till:01/01/1992 color:key
  bar:Mark&nbsp;White from:start till:01/04/1984 color:g width:3
  bar:Stephen&nbsp;Singleton from:start till:01/04/1984 color:ww
  bar:Mark&nbsp;Lickley from:01/01/1981 till:01/04/1982 color:b
  bar:David&nbsp;Robinson from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1982 color:dr
  bar:David&nbsp;Palmer from:01/01/1982 till:01/07/1983 color:dr
  bar:David&nbsp;Palmer from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2009 color:dr

</timeline>
</div>

== Discography ==
((Main|ABC discography))

((colbegin))
* ''[[The Lexicon of Love]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Beauty Stab]]'' (1983)
* ''[[How to Be a ... Zillionaire!]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Alphabet City (album)|Alphabet City]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Up (ABC album)|Up]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Abracadabra (ABC album)|Abracadabra]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Skyscraping]]'' (1997)
* ''[[The Lexicon of Live]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Traffic (ABC album)|Traffic]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Lexicon of Love II]]'' (2016)
* ''[[The Lexicon of Love 40th Anniversary Live At Sheffield City Hall]]'' (2023)
((colend))

==Pop culture influence==
((more citations needed|section|date=November 2019)) 
*ABC had three number-one hits on the US [[Dance Club Songs]]: "The Look of Love" (18 December 1982), "Be Near Me" (28 September – 5 October 1984) and "When Smokey Sings" / "Chicago" (29 August – 5 September 1987).
*ABC was profiled in a 2004 documentary about bands hailing from Sheffield in the late 1970s-to-early 1980s. Original ABC saxophonist, [[Stephen Singleton]], was interviewed for ''[[Made in Sheffield]]'', along with members of [[the Human League]] and [[Heaven 17]].

==See also==
* [[Honeyroot]]
* [[List of Billboard number-one dance club songs|List of ''Billboard'' number-one dance club songs]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart]]
* [[List of synth-pop artists]]

==References==
((Reflist|30em))

==External links==
* ((official website))
* ((allMusic|artist/abc-mn0000574597))
* ((discogs artist))
* ((IMDb name|id=4609590))

((ABC (band)))

((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Abc))
[[Category:ABC (band)| ]]
[[Category:English new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:English synth-pop groups]]
[[Category:English pop music groups]]
[[Category:British synth-pop new wave groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Sheffield]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1980]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1991]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1997]]
[[Category:ZTT Records]]
[[Category:Parlophone artists]]
[[Category:Second British Invasion artists]]

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